Pen and method of manufacturing the same



May 27, 1941. I uss ETAL 2,243,342

PEN AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME Filed Feb. 15, 1939 3Sheets-Shejet 1" FIG I.

INVENTORS:

ATTORNEYS.

a 1941- R. s. Huss ETAL- 2,243,342

PEN AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME Filed Feb. 15, 1939 3 seets-sheet 2 HG JYK ill l,,,, 1,11,, r p //mlllllllll By wk Mfils more,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 27, 194i FEN AND METHOD .OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME sylvaniaApplication February 15, 1939, Serial No. 256,484.

6 Claims. 4131. 113-32) This invention relates generally to pens andmethods of their manufacture, and more particularly to p ns having aball or folded over point.

It is now no longer new to form pens with:

either ball points or folded over points. Various forms of both ballfolded over points and numerous ways of manufacturing them are now knownto the art. In ome pens of this general type, the upper face of thepoint is designed for fine writing and the lower face for heavy writing.In all, there is a smoothness of writing action which is not alwa '5present in the ordinary sharp pointed pen which sticks into the paperfrom time to time. The ball and folded point type also show superiorwearing qualities.

However, the ball and folded over pen points have brought to the artcertain manufacturing dificulties and a certain tendency to crack in themanufacturing process. Efforts have been made in the art to avoid thesedifficulties, such as Hawkes contribution in United States Patent No.1,365,318, granted January 11, 1921. Halpin and Henwood in United StatesPatent No.

2,030,918 have also given this problem attention and developed a methodinvolving a particular type of metal and specifically detailed steps.

Therefore, the main object of this invention is to provide an improvedform of pen of the ball or folded over point type which may bemanufactured easily and eificiently. Another object is the provision ofa pen of long life and'smooth writing qualities. Another object is theprovision of an elastic method of manufacture which is not limited tospecific types of heat treatments or to specific metals and materials.Another object of this invention is to provide a method of folding sheetmetal in the manufacture of pens of this general character which willrelieve the tendency to crack at the fold which is the outstandingweakness in the pens now in the art. Still further objects andadvantages will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof certain specific embodiments of this invention, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings.

Fig. I is a perspective View of a finished pen point having a ball orfolded over point and embodying the hereinafter described invention.

Fig. II is an end view of the pen point shown in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a face view of a pen blank which has just been died out ofsheet stock in the practice of the hereinafter described invention.

Fig. IV is a face View of the pen blank of Fig.

III with an elongated boss formed in-the point portion thereof.

Fig. V is a face view of the above mentioned pen blank having theembossed point portion bent in the direction of the curvature of theboss.

Fig. VI is a faceview of the above mentioned pen blank showing theembossed portion of the point folded back upon itself so that a portionof the original boss lies on the top face of the pen and other portionof the boss lies on the bottom face of the pen.

Fig. VII is a partial enlarged section taken as indicated by the linesVII-VII in Fig. III.

Fig. VIII is a partial enlarged section taken as indicated by the linesVI I-VIII in Fig. IV.

Fig. IX is a partial enlarged section taken-as indicated by the linesIX-IX of Fig. V.

Fig. X is a partial enlarged section taken as indicated by the lines XXin Fig. VI showing particularly the minute cavity formed between thefolds of the folded over portion of the pen point. v

Fig. X1 is a transverse enlarged section taken as indicated by the linesXI--XI in Fig. VI.

Fig. XII is a partial face view of a pen blank embossed for folding overat the embossed area according to a modification of the inventionillustrated in the above figures. r

Fig. XIII is a partial enlarged section taken along the lines XIII-XIIIof Fig. XII.

Fig. XIV is an enlarged end view showing the point of the pen blankillustrated in Figs. XII and XIII.

Fig. XV is a partial sectional View of the dies used in forming the bossin the point portion of the pen blank, the apparatus being to someextent diagrammatically indicated.

Fig. XVI is a plan view partially in section of the tools and apparatusemployed in bending the embossed pen point at the embossed area, theapparatus and tools being indicated to some extent diagrammatically.

Fig. XVII is a. partial sectional view taken about the lines XVII-XVIIin Fig. XVI.

Fig. XVIII is a side view partially in section of apparatus and toolsused in the final stage of the formation of the folded over or ball penpoint in which the edges of the folded portions are pressed closelytogether, leaving a minute cavity therebetween due to the convexity ofthe original boss.

Fig. XIX shows a face view of a pen blank with a different form of bossto provide in the finished pen point different curvatures for thewriting points formed on the upper and lower faces of the pen.

Fig. XX is a partial enlarged section taken as indicated by the linesXX-X X in Fig. XIX.

Fig. XXI is a partial enlarged sectional view showing the embossed penblank of Figs. X X and XX folded over according to the methodillustrated in the figures referred to above.

Fig. XXII is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the linesXXII-XXII in Fig. XXI.

Fig. XXIII shows a face view of a pen blank having two contiguous bossesformed on the point thereof according to a modification of the inventionillustrated in the above mentioned figures.

Fig. XXIV is a partial enlarged sectional View taken as indicated by thelines XXIV--XXIV in Fig. XXIII.

Fig. XXV is an enlarged sectional view of the blank shown in Figs. XXIIIand XXIV after it has been folded over at the embossed portion thereofaccording to the method illustrated in the above figures.

Fig. XXVI is a transverse sectional view taken along the lines XXVIXXVIof Fig. XXV.

Fig. XXVII is a side view partially in section showing the apparatus andtools employed in forming the double embossment shown in Fig. XXIII, theapparatus and tools being to some extent diagrammatically shown.

Fig. XXVIII is aside view partially in section showing the apparatus andtools employed in bending the pen blank shown in Fig. XXIII at theembossed area according to the general method illustrated in the figuresdescribed above.

Fig. XXIX shows' aside view partially in section of the apparatusemployed in the final stages of completing the fold initiated by theapparatus shown in Fig. XXVIII and resulting in the closely folded overpen point shown in Figs. XXV and XXVI.

Fig. XXX is a partial face view illustrating a further variation andshowing notches formed in the sides of the pen blank of Fig. III as anadditional step before folding, said notches being positioned where thefold is to be made.

Fig. IQiXI is a partial face view showing the notches of the blank ofFig. XXX after embossment.

In describing the embodiments of this invention shown in the drawings, aspecific terminology will be adopted for the purpose of clarity, but itis to be understood that it is not intended thereby to limit theinvention to this detailed description of illustrative embodimentsthereof. Each term adopted is intended to include all equivalentsthereof which operate in a substantially similar manner to accomplish asubstantially similar result. I'his invention is applicable to pens madefrom all materials and includes materials requiring heat treatment atcertain stages as well as those not requiring heat treatment.

In the practice of this invention a fiat pen blank is stamped out fromsheet or strip stock according to well accepted methods in the art asappears in Figs. III and VII. The material of this strip may be any ofthe common pen materials, such as stainless steel, nickel silver, brass,carbon steel and others. If carbon steel is selected the usual heattreatment steps now in general use in connection with pen manufacturefrom carbon steel stock remain appropriate. It should be emphasized thatthis invention is in no way limited by heat treatment steps but on thecontrary comprehensively includes in its application methods of penmaking which do not involve heat treatment steps with those methodswhich do.

The pen blank of Figs. III and VII is now embossed on its point portionforming an elongated boss I rounded at each end as appears in Figs. IVand VIII being concave on one side and convex on the other. If carbonsteel or the like is used, this embossing should of course be done inthe proper condition with respect to temper. The embossing isaccomplished by means of a shaping die 2 having a depression 3 formedtherein according to the configuration of the boss I to be formed. Acooperating punch die 4 is adjustably mounted in a holder 5. A set screw6 is provided for fixing and maintaining the adjustment of the punch die4. The lower end of the punch die 4 is rounded according to theconfiguration of the depression 3 and of the boss I. Fig. XV shows punchdie 4 and shaping die 2 under pressure and forming a boss I in the penblank Hi positioned between these dies 2 and 4. For the purpose ofclarity the means for cooperatively actuating the dies 2 and 4 has beenomitted and it may be left to the choice of skilled artisan from thewell developed art relating to such means.

The embossed pen blank 10 is now ready to have its point bent back onitself at the embossed area about the dot-and-dash line in Fig. VIII. Toeffect this operation, the blank I!) is firmly clamped under pressure ina vise-like apparatus diagrammatically shown in Fig. XVII with theconvex face of the boss I up. This apparatus consists of an upperelement II and a lower element 12. The mechanical details of thecooperative actuation of these elements H and I2 which are omitted forthe sake of clarity are well within the compass of the skilled artisan.The element I2 is equipped with a projecting bending edge [3 aroundwhich the embossed portion of the blank I0 is bent as indicated in Fig.XVII by means of bending tools I4 and IS. The details of the machineryfor the operation of bending tools l4 and I5 may be left to the skilledartisan. It is hardly necessary to remark that operations of the typedescribed above may be performed either by hand or by appropriatemachinery well understood in the art.

The pen blank I0 is positioned between elements H and I2 with about halfof the boss I projecting over the bending edge I3. Guides I! areprovided for accurate positioning. The bending tool 14 is then moved inthe direction indicated by the-arrow in Fig. XVII which bends theprojecting portion of the embossed tip over the bending edge l3 into theposition shown in Fig. XVII. The position of the projecting portion ofthe boss I before bending is indicated in broken lines. As soon asbending tool I4 is retracted, bending tool I5 is moved in the directionof the arrow bending the projecting portion of the embossed tip furtherand toward the underside of the bending edge I3. When the bending toolI5 is retracted the pen blank 10 is ready for the further forming steps,and appears as in Figs. V and IX. The further bending steps directed tocontinuing this initial bending of the embossed portion of blank ID arenew carried on by other dies similar tothose referred to above or bysimple hand tools until the final stage is reached in which the outerportion of the embossed end of the blank ll] is bent closely back uponitself forming a minute cavity 18 between the folds, as appears in Fig.XVIII. The

die elements I9 and 20 are concavely formed according to the designedconfiguration of the fin- 'ished pen point and guides 2| are providedfor accurate positioning of the blank ID. The upper die 23 may give adifferent curvature or convexity from the curvature given by the lowerdie l9 if desired and in this way there may be provided a pen pointwhich will Write with different line thickness by writing with the topor bottom face of the pen point. When the pen point has reached thisstage of formation, it appears as in Figs. VI, X and XI, and the blankis ready for finishing in any of the usual ways well known to the art.The raising to form the blank I into a pen with an arched cross-sectionmay precede or follow the slitting 22 of the point portion of the blankID to form pen nibs. It has been found that saw slitting as practiced inthe art is satisfactory. It is unnecessary to enlarged upon these andother finishing steps, however. The finished pen as shown in Figs. I andII with a folded or ball point 23 illustrates a preferred embodiment ofthis invention. It will be noted that in the above specific process, thefolded back portion of the pen point lies on the under face of the pen.Of course, the invention could be practiced similarly by having thefolded back portion lie on the upper face of the pen without losing anyof the essential advantages and utility of the invention. It should beremarked that the preliminary boss which prepares the metal forsubsequent bending might be formed in the stock before the initialdieing out of the pen blank shown in Fig. III; and the folding mightprecede the dieing out also. Another variation might involve a partialblanking out which is completed after the folding operation; forexample, the metal stock could be embossed, then partially blanked outto form the point portion and folded while still attached to the metalstock, the complete blanking out following as a subsequent step.

Thus by a simple and economic method it becomes possible to provide apen of the ball or fold over point type. Also it has been found that theemployment of an embossment substantially diminishes the cracking andfrequency of breakage at the fold. A microscopic examination of thefolded edge of pens formed in this way shows them singularly free fromthe usual fractures so frequently found in pen points folded without thepreliminary embossment which prepares the structure of the metal forsubsequent folding. Hence this invention provides an improved methd ofpen-making which results in a pen having an increased life-span as wellas improved writing qualities.

Let us now turn to certain modifications which have been developedaccording to the teaching of the above described invention. In Fig. XIIthere is shown a pen blank it formed with an elongated boss I after themanner described above. In this modification, the folding over is doneat the inner edge of the boss I or along the dot-and-dash line in Fig.XII instead of at the central portion as described in the abovementioned method. Fig. XIII shows the result of folding at the inner endof the boss I instead of at the central portion thereof. In thismodification the folding places the boss I on the under face of the penbut of course the folding could be done in the other direction as above.It will be noted that in this way according to the practice of thisinvention it is possible to provide a folded over pen point having aflat upper face and a convex Writing point on the lower face thereof.This type of pen point has the same general advantages as the pen pointformed according to the method described above, but is a variation inthe form of the pen which may better fulfill the requirements of certainportions of the buying public.

A further modification of the invention described above is found invarying the shape of the convex boss I described above. In Figs. XIX,XX, XXI and XXII it will be seen that a boss Ia has been formed having arelatively sharp curvature at the inner end 30 thereofand a relativelyflat curvature at the other end 3! thereof. This results in providingdifferent degrees of curvature in the top and bottom writing faces ofthe ball point in the finished pen. When this particular form of boss lais employed. the method of folding proceeds in a manner similar to thatalready fully described above. It is obvious that this boss la may besubjected to other changes which will occur to one skilled in the artand following the requirements of the pen market. This specific form ofpen effectively provides a writing boss which has the usual writingadvantages of the ball point. It is, of course, a matter of choicewhether the thin line is written by the upper face or the lower face.The same advantages of wearing quality are found in this modification.

We now turn to another modification of the above described inventionwhich involves the use of a double embossment illustrated in Fig. XXIII.The embossed area on the point is formed with substantially contiguousembossments 33 and 34 which are of different lengths and curvatures aswill appear by reference to Fig. XXIV. This double embossment isperformed by the use of a die 35 having concavities 36 and 31 formedtherein according to the configuration of the design of the bosses 33and 34. Two punch dies 39 and 40 are adjustably mounted in a holder 4|being held in place by set screws 42 and 43. The

lower ends of the punch dies 39 and 40 are formed with a convexconfiguration which conforms to the concave configuration of thedepressions 35 and 31 in die 35 and with the configuration of thefinished bosses 33 and 34 to be formed.

After the double embossment has been performed by the tools andapparatus of Fig. XXVII the blank 32 is clamped tightly between elements45 and 43, being accurately positioned between guides 48. Thepositioning of the blank 32 is such that the boss 33 of the doubleembossed area of the blank 32 extends over a projecting bending edge 43.Then by means of the tools 5| and 52 the boss 33 is bent over along thedotand-dash line shown in Fig. XXIV and under the bending edge 49according to the bending operation described above. Additional bendingsteps will then follow as described above with appropriate machinery ortools, the final step being illustrated in Fig. XXIX in which formingelements 53 and 54 closely fold the double embossed area of the pointback upon itself so that the bosses 33 and 34 are pressed together withtheir concave faces forming a minute cavity lab between the folds. Theusual guides 55 are provided to insure accuracy. The pen point nowappears as shown in Figs. XXV and XXVI with a. ball point havingdifferent curvatures for the upper and lower faces thereof. This type ofpen retains the general advantages inherent in the invention describedabove. Because of the preliminary embossing, cracking at the fold isrelieved in the finished pen.

A further modification of this invention involves the forming ofindentations or notches 50 at the sides of the point of the pen blank IDas a preliminary to folding the blank Hi. These notches 50 are placedwhere the blank I!) is to be later folded and their use results inavoiding protrusions or fins of metal which to a greater or lesserextent occur when folding is done Without the preliminary notches 50. Aswill appear in Fig. XXX, these notches 50 are preferably formed insemi-circular form and should be small enough to leave sufiicient metalat the pen point for strength. These preliminary notches 50 may be usedto advantage with any of the above described variations of thisinvention.

Thus the invention herein described with suggested modifications thereofprovides an economical and efficient method for the manufacture of penswhich are generally of the ball or folded point type. The invention alsoprovides a pen with increased wearing qualities due to the substantialavoidance of minute fractures incident to the folding of sheet stockwithout the formation of a preliminary boss.

While this invention has been described above in considerable detail andcertain modifications thereof suggested, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various other changes and modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A pen having a folded over point, and oppositely disposed bossesformed on said folded over portions, said bosses being of differentsizes.

2. A method of manufacturing a pen point which includes the forming of aconcavo-convex boss in the tip portion, and bending the tip at a pointintermediate the ends of said boss so that the tip portion is bent backinto engagement with itself whereby convex writing surfaces are formedon the upper and lower surfaces of the tip of said pen point.

3. A method of manufacturing a pen point whichincludes the forming of aconcavo-convex boss in the tip portion, said boss being larger at. oneend than at the other end thereof, and thereafter folding said tipportion at a point intermediate the ends of the concavo-convex boss andback into engagement with itself so that the smaller portion of the bossand the larger portion thereof extend convexly from different faces ofthe finished pen point, whereby the writing surfaces formed on thedifferent faces of the pen point will write with different linethicknesses.

4. A method of manufacturing a pen point which includes the forming oftwo concavoconvex-bosses in the tip portion, and bending the tip portionat a point intermediate the two bosses, said tip portion being bent backonto and intoengagement with itself whereby the convex surfaces of saidbosses are disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of said pen point aswriting surfaces.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein notches are formed in the sides of thepen blank at the place where the pen blank is to be folded and beforesaid folding.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said concavo-convex boss is formed by adie stamping operation, thereby toughening said metal.

RAYMOND S. HUSS. ROY E. STROH. JOSEPH M. ASHMORE.

